Marker assembly



March 5, 1963 v, M, zElGLER ETAL 3,079,714

MARKER ASSEMBLY Filed March 21,

lPatented Mar. 5, i963 R ASSEMBLY Verde Mae Zeigler and Warren E. Adams, both o Z445 Fairfield Ave., Fort Wayne, ind. Filed Mar. 21, 1%6, Ser. No. 16,255 2 Claims. (Cl. l0-125) The present invention relates to a marker assembly, and more particularly to a device for displaying signs, names, street addresses and the like, all of the indicia being easily and simply changed.

Markers for indicating street addresses, names and other information are conventional and vary quite widely in construction, from the mere painted poster to the relatively complex arrangements whereby the displayed information may be altered at will. in the latter category, markers capable of supporting changeable characters or indicia have proven to be relatively costly and limited in use, and itis one of the purposes of the present invention to provide a versatile marker construction which may be used in almost any environment, yet be rugged, durable, inexpensive, simple in construction and facile in manipu- Y lation.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a marker assembly for supporting indicia plates which may e changed at will.

It is another object of this invention to provide a marker assembly for use as signs, street addresses, name displays, and the like.

lt is still another object of this inventon to provide a marker assembly for supporting indicia plates so constructed as to facilitate changing such plates and to eliminate diiculties encountered in inclement weather.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a front elevation of one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a part-sectional illustration taken substantially along section line 2--2 of FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective illustration partially sectioned and broken away for revealing more clearly the construction.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment there illustrated is intended to be used as a house marker which displays the number of the street address. This embodiment comprises a bar frame, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, having two sides 12 and 14, respectively, connected together at the top ends thereof by a cross member 16. This bar frame l is preferably dieformed from a bar of metal such as steel or aluminum and as illustrated is of square or rectangular cross-section. An indicia supporting-plate assembly, generally indicated by the reference numeral 18, spans the frame between the sides thereof and is secured at the opposite ends to the sides 12 and 14, respectively. This supporting-plate assembly comprises two plates 29 and 22 clamped together in back-to-back relation, these two plates being formed preferably by die stamping. Further, these plates Ztl and 22 are identical so that they may be formed by the same set ol dies. Since these plates are identical, a detailed description of one will sutlice for both, the reference numerals applied to each of these plates being the same with the exception that one of the plates will carry reference numerals having the suiiix letter a.

Each plate is formed of suitable sheet metal such as steel, aluminum or the like, and is provided with upper and lower identically shaped elongated channel sections indicated generally by the reference numerals 24 and Z6, respectively. These channel sections are elongated, spaced apart and parallel, each channel section having parallel spaced-apart llanges. For the channel section 24, these anges are indicated by the reference numerals 28 and 39, and for the channel section 26 the ilanges are indicated by the numerals 32 and 34, respectively. The anges 28 and 36 are joined together by a ilat bottom portion 36 and the ilanges 32 and 34 are similarly joined together by bottom portion 38. For symmetry of design, the bottom portions 36 and 38 are fashioned to lie in the same plane.

The central portion of the plate 20 is at and of rectangular shape to provide a panel 40. This panel 44) lies in the plane extending at right angles to the channel section anges and also for symmetry of design is parallel to the plane of the channel bottom portions 36 and 38.

A plurality of spaced-apart slots 42 are provided in the corners formed between the panel 4G and the innermost ilanges Sil and 34, respectively, these slots being elongated and arranged in a straight line adjacent to the corners and in the plane of the exposed or front face of the panel 4l). As many of these slots 42 may be used as desired, and the spacing between and the size thereof may vary to suit design needs.

lAs seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the outermost llanges 28 and 32 of the channel sections are longer than the innermost respective llanges 3G and 34, the purpose of this difference in size becoming apparent from the following description.

Each of the plates 20 and 22. are provided at the opposite ends thereof with right angle flanges 44 which extend beyond the front side of the respective panel. Y

As previously explained, the two plates 20 and 22 are identically formed, and in the assembling thereof they are abutted against each other as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 in back-to-back relation. The back sides of the panels 4) and 4liaabut each other and are coplanar such that the respective channel sections 24, 24a and 26, 26a meet to provide two elongated hollow reinforcing portions, in dicated by the numerals 47 and 49, respectively. These hollow reinforcing or box-like portions 47 and 49 are formed by the oppositely extending flanges 28, 28a and 3i), 32a overlapping and engaging each other as illustrated, the ange 28 overlying the ange 28a in the upper box-like portion 47 and the ilange 32 overlying the iiange 32a in the lower box-like portion 49.

vWith the supporting plate assembly 18 assembled together as just explained, the flanges 44 of the two plates are straddled over the front and rear surfaces of the two frame sides l2 and 14, respectively. The two flanges 44 of the respective plates 2t) and 22 form a channel having the same shape and size as the bar frame 1G. So assembled on the bar frame, the flanges 44 are spot welded at various points 46 on both the plates 2t) and 22 to the sides l2 and 14, thereby securely fastening the plates 26 and 22 together as well as to the frame lll.

The marker assembly just described is adapted to receive indicia or number plates indicated by the numeral 48. Preferably, the individual plates 4S are formed of a resilient sheet material such as thin gauge steel or aluminum, each plate having a length dimension corresponding substantially to the width of the respective panel 4-9, 4in1. On the opposite ends of each plate 48 are small tabs or projections Si? which are adapted to enter and project through companion slots 42 of the respective plates 29 and 22. By this means, the various plates 48 are firmly and securely supported in place on the panels 40 and 46a.

In FIG. 2 is illustrated in dashed line configuration the method of inserting and removing the various plates 48 3 trom the supporting plate 178.. lfsit isdesired to first assemble the plate '233, the'iirst step is to insert one projection 50 in the proper slot 42 as shown by the dashed line configuration 48a, Next, the plate is bowed slightly, 'as indicated by the 4clashed 'line conii-guration 48Vb, thereby permitting the lower projection V50 to be inserted into its `slot 42, Once this has been accomplished, the indicia plate is released whereby the Anatural resiliency thereof vwill cause it to atten snugly against the respective front surface Vof the panel/40 or 250:1. ln removing the indicia plate from 'the support Y18, the indicia Yplate is merely 'bowed outwardly soas to withdraw the projections 50 fromthe respectiveslots.

'From the foregoing description, it is evidentvthat the marker assemblyjis 'not only rugged and durable, but is "simple in construction, inexpensive and facile to manipulate.,Y Since the two plates 2i) and 22 are identical, only one set of forming dies is needed for providing the supporting plates 20 arid22. By 'means of the unique method of assembling the two plates 20 and 212 together, only Vone seto'f fastenings 46 are needed for securing the Aplates 20 and 22 together as well'asV tothe supporting fratrie 10. Thus, only a minimum of time and equipment is neededrfor securing all the parts together. n Y

'.'lfhe 'unique construction of the two plates 20 and 22 with'r'espect to the channel sectionsserveinproviding t'ne yboxlike portions Wand Y49 Awhich function as closures Vfor theslots'42 aswell as'reinforcernentor the panels 40 and 40a. Not'only lare theslotsV 42enclosed, but, additionally, the projections on the indicia plates 18 are concealed from view. Additionally, with the box-like portions formedfas illustrated and described, rain'arid lmoistnreare prevented from passing through theslotfs 42 and draining'overthe indicia plates'48. lnlfree'zing weather, water passing through these slots could freeze von the indicia'plate's,"the`reby obscuring the'nuniefral's.

The box-'like portions also prevent water from enter- ;ingthespace between the-panels 0L and 40a which, in

4freezing weather, lwould'distort and in some instances posfsibly snap the indicia platesfl'from the respective supporting panels, Other advantages willoccur topersons r`skilled' inthe art.

While the invention has beenillustrated' in connection nwith"address markers for hons'e'sjt willoccur as'obvious to persons skilled in the art that the marker assembly of lthis, inventionvmay beused asfstreetfmarlrers, nameplates,

signs andother'devi'c's for displaying information of ya character which may bechangedfromtirne to time.

While we have described above'the' principles of onr invention in connection with'specickapparatus', it is toV be clearly "understood that this description is madey only'by ,way of example and not asa limitation to the'scope of our invention.

lllfhat isclaimed is: e Y l. vA 'marlrer assembly comprising a bar'fra'me having Vtw'ojspaced apart parallel sidesrconnected together at one end by 'a cross bar, said sides being rectangular in crosssection, a supporting-plate assembly spanning said frame and secured at its opposite ends to said sides respectively;

` said 'snpporting-plate' assembly comprising two platesA backto-back; `each` platejincludingupper and lower spaced apart and parallel identically shaped elongated channel sections, each channel section having spaced apart parallel flanges, said anges being integrally joined at one end thereof by a bottom portion, the outermost flange of each channel section being substantially wider than the innermost ange thereof, a llat panel integrally joined to the longitudinal edges of said innermost flanges and lying in a plane at right angles to said flanges, a 'series of spaced apart elongated slots in the corners formed between said panel and said innermost ilanges, said slots being arranged in a straight line in said respective corners; said two plates being assembled -together with said flat panels in face-to-face abutting relationship and the respective'channel sections vmating together to form two elongated hollow reinforcing portions for said supporting-plate assembly, the outermost flanges Yof the respective plates extending oppositely in overlapping relation; the opposite'ends of said two-panels respectively beingformedoutwardly into outwardly open channel Vportions which overlap the sides of said bar frame respectively, said channel portion being welded to said frame sides thereof securing Ythe plates and said frame into assembly.

2,. A markersassembly comprising a bar 'frame having two spaced apart parallel sides connected together at'o'ne end by `a cross bar, a supporting-plate assembly. spanmost anges and lying in aplane at right angles to said anges, Va Vseries of spaced 'apart Velongated slots -in the corners formed between said panel and said innermost tianges, said slots being arranged in a straight linc'in said respective corners; said two plates being assembled together with saidflatpanels face-to-'face'abutting relation- Vship and the respective channel sections mating together toform-two elongated hollow'reinforcing `portions for said supporting-plate assembly, the outermost flanges-of the respective plates extending oppositely in overlapping relation; theV opposite ends of said two panels being' secured to said frame sides respectively for holding said plates and said frame in assembly.

References Citedin the Vtile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,315,892 VWilson t. Sept. 9, 1919 1,853,772 McComas Apr. 12, 1932 1,968,209 4Irby July 3,1, 1934 2,048,735 Erickson July` 28, 1936 2,165,595 Weinharta.V July 11, 19,39 2,230,389 Seay e Feb. 4, 1941 2,271,456 Hendricks W Ian. 27, 1942 2,355,546 Michaels Aug. 8, 19.44 2,591,494 vAsachika Apr. 1, 1952 2,608,014 Bennett Aug. 26,1952 

2. A MARKER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A BAR FRAME HAVING TWO SPACED APART PARALLEL SIDES CONNECTED TOGETHER AT ONE END BY A CROSS BAR, A SUPPORTING-PLATE ASSEMBLY SPANNING SAID FRAME AND SECURED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS TO SAID SIDES RESPECTIVELY; SAID SUPPORTING-PLATE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING TWO PLATES BACK-TO-BACK; EACH PLATE INCLUDING UPPER AND LOWER SPACED APART AND PARALLEL IDENTICALLY SHAPED ELONGATED CHANNEL SECTIONS, EACH CHANNEL SECTION HAVING SPACED APART PARALLEL FLANGES, SAID FLANGES BEING INTEGRALLY JOINED AT ONE END THEREOF BY A BOTTOM PORTION, THE OUTERMOST FLANGE OF EACH CHANNEL SECTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY WIDER THAN THE INNERMOST FLANGE THEREOF, A FLAT PANEL INTEGRALLY JOINED TO THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF SAID INNERMOST FLANGES AND LYING IN A PLANE AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID 